New Crimeline Number Makes It Easier To Aid Police

A new, easier-to-remember Crimeline number -- 423-TIPS -- will be connected Monday for Central Florida residents who have information about unsolved crimes or suspicious activity.

Starting Monday the non-profit organization also can be reached through a toll-free WATS line -- (800) 423-TIPS -- for callers who live outside the Orlando area. Those who provide a tip to Crimeline are eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if the information they give leads to an arrest.

The announcement of the new phone numbers will be made today at the ninth annual meeting of the Central Florida Crimeline Program Inc., said Orlando police Officer Jim Bishop, who oversees the administrative duties of Crimeline.

U.S. Sen. Lawton Chiles will be the guest speaker at the meeting, which will be held at 8:30 a.m. at the Citrus Club in the CNA Tower in Orlando.

Most calls to Crimeline in past years have come from the Orlando area, Bishop said.

''Not many calls are from outside the area, but with a WATS line we hope to change that,'' Bishop said. ''We want the organization to better serve all of the communities of Central Florida.'' He said he hopes ''the new number also will make it easier for callers to remember.''

Callers may remain anonymous when providing information to Crimeline, which publicizes unsolved crimes.

So far this year the Central Florida program has helped law enforcement agencies solve 165 crimes, a 56 percent increase over the same period last year. The agency also has helped in the recovery of $199,020 in stolen property and illegal drugs, an increase of 125 percent over the same period last year. The agency has paid $6,925 in rewards this year.

Since the program began nine years ago, it has helped solve 1,102 crimes and has helped recover more than $5.5 million in stolen property and drugs. It has paid $50,325 in rewards.

The agency depends on $50,000 in cash donations each year for rewards, operating materials and a salary for its secretary. Bishop is paid by the Orlando Police Department.